A patient in the supine position with the head flexed to the chest is not experiencing any pain, resistance, or flexion of the hips or knees. What is the nurse assessing in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse is assessing for the Brudzinski sign, which is a sign of meningitis. When the patient's neck is flexed towards the chest, involuntary flexion of the hips and knees in response would indicate a positive Brudzinski sign. The absence of pain, resistance, or flexion of the hips or knees suggests that the sign is negative, which is what the nurse is checking for in this scenario.

A Patient in the Supine Position with the Head Flexed